Build Your Legacy: Insurance Edition

As the insurance landscape shifts, planning with carriers becomes more critical than ever. In this episode, Bill and Travis discuss how agents and agencies can align with carrier strategies to thrive in 2025. From adapting to understanding what the carriers are looking for when planning with insurance agencies, we unpack the tools and tactics needed to stay ahead. Tune in to gain practical insights and actionable advice on navigating carrier relationships, enhancing service offerings, and positioning your agency for growth in the year to come.Thinking about starting your own insurance agency but unsure where to begin? This podcast is for you! Already own an agency but want to grow and build a strong legacy? Stay tuned as our hosts share valuable tips and strategies to help you achieve your goals!

In this episode, Whitney Oliver discusses the importance of building strong relationships with insurance carriers to help new network members secure carrier access and appointments, a key value for members. Whitney emphasizes the need for understanding carrier appetites and adapting to market conditions, highlighting the weekly Carrier Corner sessions and annual meetings as vital networking opportunities. She also explains the role of the Access Plus division, which serves as a testing ground to match members with appropriate carriers and ensure they align with carriers’ target client profiles, ultimately positioning them for successful partnerships.

In this episode, the hosts highlight the unique role of AccessPlus, which is designed to help agents grow and move towards direct carrier contracts. AccessPlus enables members to build strong relationships and demonstrate their value to carriers, giving agents access to competitive carrier options and helping them establish a compelling value proposition. Particularly valuable in hard markets, AccessPlus positions agents to showcase their capabilities, which can be crucial for carriers that are selective with appointments.AccessPlus isn’t just a bridge to direct contracts; it also serves as a resource for unique or high-value cases, such as niche commercial lines, where direct contracts may not yet exist. As market conditions shift, AccessPlus remains available as a backup, helping agents respond to carrier needs and expand their reach. This flexibility enables agencies to adapt and grow, ensuring long-term success and diverse carrier relationships.Thinking about starting your own insurance agency but unsure where to begin? This podcast is for you! Already own an agency but want to grow and build a strong legacy? Stay tuned as our hosts share valuable tips and strategies to help you achieve your goals!

In this episode of Build Your Legacy: Insurance Edition, we welcome back Stefani Butschle to address a common question for agency owners: how do I classify internal staff correctly? Stefani and Bill break down the distinctions between salaried and hourly employees, diving into why the choice between these two can impact an agency’s operations and financial responsibilities. They also clarify the differences between exempt and non-exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), explaining how these classifications determine eligibility for overtime and other protections. Correct classifications not only support fair labor practices, but also protect the agency from costly penalties and legal issues down the line.Thinking about starting your own insurance agency but unsure where to begin? This podcast is for you! Already own an agency but want to grow and build a strong legacy? Stay tuned as our hosts share valuable tips and strategies to help you achieve your goals!

In this episode, Bill and Travis tackle a common question in the insurance world: How do I get direct codes from carriers? They discuss basic approaches for agents, like contacting carriers directly, and the benefits of the Access Plus program, which helps streamline the process. The hosts emphasize the importance of focusing on the right carrier partnerships, cautioning against taking on too many at once, and highlight the value of building long-term, efficient relationships to drive business success.Thinking about starting your own insurance agency but unsure where to begin? This podcast is for you! Already own an agency but want to grow and build a strong legacy? Stay tuned as our hosts share valuable tips and strategies to help you achieve your goals!

In this episode, Bill and Travis tackle one of the most common questions they receive: Do I own my book of business? Take a listen as they dive deep into the nuances of ownership in the insurance industry. The conversation covers the motivations behind why agents and producers ask this question, the challenges they face, and what it truly means to own a book of business.They also touch on the growing trends in the industry, such as mergers and acquisitions driven by private equity, and how those changes affect producers who want more control over their careers. The hosts provide insights into key indicators of ownership, including commission payments, non-compete agreements, and the importance of direct contracts with carriers. Finally, they discuss what independent agents should consider when buying or selling a book of business and the resources SIA of NC provides to help them succeed.

We’re excited to introduce Whitney Oliver, our Agency Partner Growth Coach,  who will guide us through the essentials of starting and running your own agency.In this episode, we tackle key questions like: How do I get started? What do I need to run my agency effectively? Whitney shares her 17 years of experience and explains our Agency Foundation Program, which supports new members in setting up their agencies, from licenses to tech stacks. Every agency is unique, and we tailor our support to meet the specific needs of both new and existing members.Join us as we discuss the non-negotiables for launching your agency and how to attract the right carriers.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and catch us on YouTube as well as your favorite podcast platform! Have a topic recommendation? Send it over to us at podcast@siaofnc.com. For more information about us, visit www.sofnc.com.Looking to start your own insurance agency but don’t know where to begin? Or perhaps you already have an agency and want to take it to the next level? This podcast is for you! Join our hosts as they share expert tips, strategies, and insights to help you grow your business and build a lasting legacy in the insurance industry.

In this episode, we explore why agency owners, captive agents, producers, and entrepreneurs are turning to agency partnerships. Market challenges and industry shifts are pushing professionals to seek growth, ownership, and diversification. We discuss how captive agents are looking for more options and ownership, and how producers are navigating changes in compensation and equity. Entrepreneurs are drawn to the insurance industry for its residual income potential and community connections. With private equity driving industry changes, many are seeking flexible market options and long-term growth strategies. Don’t forget to subscribe and find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart Radio!Looking to start your own insurance agency but don’t know where to begin? Or perhaps you already have an agency and want to take it to the next level? This podcast is for you! Join our hosts as they share expert tips, strategies, and insights to help you grow your business and build a lasting legacy in the insurance industry.

In this episode, Bill and Travis tackle one of the most frequently asked questions: "If it’s so great, why doesn’t everyone do it?" They break down the barriers, from costs to ROI, offering clear and valid reasons behind their approach. Tune in as they explore the challenges and give insight into why their strategy hasn’t gained widespread traction—yet.Thinking about starting your own insurance agency but unsure where to begin? This podcast is for you! Already own an agency but want to grow and build a strong legacy? Stay tuned as our hosts share valuable tips and strategies to help you achieve your goals!

In this episode, Bill and Stefani Butschle discuss what it means to be a 1099 employee and a W-2 employee, and the differences between the two. Listen as they talk through and "decode" the IRS expectations for employers regarding each type of employee, as well as what penalties are involved if employees are misclassified.Looking to build your own insurance agency, but you're not sure where to start? This is the podcast for you! Have your own insurance agency, but you want to grow bigger and build your legacy? Stick around, as our hosts give you tips and tricks to make that happen!

In this episode, Bill and Travis discuss the major differences between independent and captive agencies. Take a listen as they talk about location, technology and commission differences!Looking to build your own insurance agency, but you're not sure where to start? This is the podcast for you! Have your own insurance agency, but you want to grow bigger and build your legacy? Stick around, as our hosts give you tips and tricks to make that happen!

In this episode, Bill and Travis discuss what contingency is, who can get it, and the significant impact it can make regarding your agency's success.Looking to build your own insurance agency, but you're not sure where to start? This is the podcast for you! Have your own insurance agency, but you want to grow bigger and build your legacy? Stick around, as our hosts give you tips and tricks to make that happen!

Short, sweet and to the point as the saying goes!In this episode, Travis and Bill discuss the top three questions a potential agency partner should ask before signing on the dotted line of any agreement.Looking to build your own insurance agency, but you're not sure where to start? This is the podcast for you! Have your own insurance agency, but you want to grow bigger and build your legacy? Stick around, as our hosts give you tips and tricks to make that happen!

Meet Andy Neary! In this episode, Andy and Travis talk about the upcoming 2024 Annual Owners' Meeting, and what Andy has in store for those in attendance. Listen as Andy discusses how he went from pitching baseballs for the Milwaukee Brewers to helping others pitch their business successfully to clientele! Looking to build your own insurance agency, but you're not sure where to start? This is the podcast for you! Have your own insurance agency, but you want to grow bigger and build your legacy? Stick around, as our hosts give you tips and tricks to make that happen!

In this episode, Bill and Travis talk about our upcoming 2024 Annual Owners' Meeting in Durham, NC, and why the Annual Meeting is important. Take a listen as they discuss past meetings, as well as who the special keynote speaker is for the Annual Meeting this September.Looking to build your own insurance agency, but you're not sure where to start? This the podcast for you! Have your own insurance agency, but you want to grow bigger and build your legacy? Stick around, as our hosts give you tips and tricks to make that happen!

In this episode, Bill and Travis answer one of their most-asked questions: What is SIA of NC? Take a listen, as they explain who SIA of NC is and why it is a great choice for agents who are looking to start their own insurance agency and start building their legacy!Looking to build your own insurance agency, but you're not sure where to start? This the podcast for you! Have your own insurance agency, but you want to grow bigger and build your legacy? Stick around, as our hosts give you tips and tricks to make that happen!

Welcome to SIA of NC's first podcast episode! Meet our hosts, Bill Mills and Travis Collier, as they walk you through who they are, what the overall goal of this podcast is, and what to expect from them (and others) in the future! Looking to build your own insurance agency and you're not sure where to start? This is the podcast for you! Have your own insurance agency, but you want to grow bigger and build your legacy? Stick around, as our hosts give you tips and tricks to make that happen!